2017 Subaru Impreza from $22,400

CHRISTMAS ARRIVAL: First deliveries of the 2017 Subaru Impreza will begin from December.

ARRIVING just before Christmas, the new generation Subaru Impreza will start from $22,400 for the sedan and $22,600 in hatch guise.

The incoming Imprezas use the company's new Subaru Global Platform, designed to "significantly enhance body and chassis rigidity, and strength".

Subaru says the new all-wheel drive Imprezas will offer world-class collision safety and hazard avoidance, as well as far more driver-responsive handling and ride comfort.

In good news for buyers, maintenance service intervals have been extend to 12,500km/12 months from the previous 12,500km/six months.

That means in first three years under capped price servicing, the total maintenance cost is $1298, which is a saving of $918.86 compared to the superseded model.

The 2.0-litre direct-injection boxer engine has also been given plenty of attention, with about 80% of the current powerplant being revamped to make the unit lighter as well as delivering more power (up 5kW to 115kW) and efficiency.

There will be four variants in the range, with the base 2.0i model coming with a touch-screen infotainment system that features Apple Carplay and Android Auto, and 17-inch alloys. Step up another rung and it gains a larger touch-screen, premium trim, dual zone air-con, EyeSight driver assist technology and upgraded display.

Range-topping models will get leather trim, body kit, vision assist features like blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and lane change assist, as well as sat nav and sunroof.

Orders for the new generation Subaru Impreza in Japan have reached 11,050 in one month, since its launch on October 13. Subaru in Japan says the order book more than quadruples the monthly sales target of 2500 Imprezas.

And you could be seeing the new offering in a shopping centre near you.

Subaru Australia has operated pop-up stores since the end of last year.

"We had the opportunity to trial these pop-up stores over the past year and are encouraged by their success. Driven by the positive customer response and number of sales - more than 500 vehicles sold since its introduction - we are committed to offer this new kind of Subaru buying experience in other markets," Subaru Australia's managing director Colin Christie said.